Article Author:
Reuters
The Houston Astros came out of the All-Star break after facing a challenging schedule of 19 games over 18 days, starting with a doubleheader against a team seeking the best record in the American League. Yankee.
Houston swept that doubleheader on his July 21st, but a disappointing 11-8 left him lacking overall momentum in his just-finished 19 games.
After a long-awaited Monday break, the Astros will begin their homestand for his six-game game against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
On Friday, the Astros won the final of that four-game set after his 9-3 win over the Guardians and the Yankees were half a game behind him. Dropped his two games. , was unable to take advantage of the Yankees' five-game losing skid all weekend.
"Off days are important," said acting Astros manager Joe Espada, who pulled Dusty Baker on Friday after testing positive for COVID-19. "Everybody is excited to go home and spend time with their families."
Of his final 21 games for the Astros this month, 12 have been at home, plus he has 2 One off day is mixed. This gives Houston the perfect opportunity to hunt down the Yankees for his best AL and home records. Field advantage in the playoffs that accompany it.
Astros right-hander Jose Urchidi (10-4, 3.62 ERA) is scheduled to start on Tuesday. He pitched seven scoreless innings Wednesday in a 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, allowing two hits and striking out 10, making it his ninth straight quality start. }
Urquidy went 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA, a .492 OPS against opponents, and 47 strikeouts on 12 walks.
Arkidy has started six games against the Rangers and is 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA. He went 1-0 and an ERA of 2.84 in his two starts this season with Texas, and on June 14, he went 6 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs, and 4 strikeouts without a game. I went with
Lefty Martin Perez (9 -2, 2.47 ERA) has the Rangers' first assignment. He's undefeated in his last 19 games, going 9-0 with a 2.20 ERA and a .596 OPS against his opponents.
Perez has been even sharper lately, going 2-0 with his 1.44 ERA and . Recorded back-to-back starts. Perez has his 30 strikeouts against 12 walks he has in 25 innings during that span.
Perez is 9-5 with a 2.64 ERA and started 16 games against the Astros. He dominated Houston in two starts this season, going 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA, allowing 10 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts and 1 walk in 16 innings in a 3-0 shutout on May 20.
An 8-2 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday meant the Rangers missed a chance to clinch a four-game series title. Texas is 1-3-1 in his five series after the All-Star break. His one-game "series" win against the Miami Marlins doesn't count.
Like Houston, he played 18 straight games before the Rangers had Monday off.
"We know it's going to be a tough series in Houston, but hopefully we can get a little refreshment after a long game," said Texas manager Chris Woodward.
– Field Level Media